Busker Busker - The Saviors of K-Indie?

Busker Busker is a Korean pop rock indie band signed under CJ E&M. The band first came together when lead singer Jang Beom-jun wanted to create a “busking art group that focused on street performances” in order to bring an artistic cultural presence to the streets of Korea. The band at first did not have a set amount of members and would rotate in out for performances. But, this all changed when they auditioned for the program SuperStar K3 as a three member band consisting of Jang Beom-jun (lead vocals/guitar), Kim Hyung-tae (bass) and Brad Moore (drums) because they were the only ones in the band who could participate in the competition.

While originally part of the Top 48, Busker Busker were brought into the Top 11 after another band was forced to drop out and progressed further into the competition until they eventually lost to Oolala Session in the season finale. After the events of the competition, Busker Busker dropped out of the spotlight in order to focus on their music direction and their debut album. Now I’ll admit, even while watching SuperStar K3, they didn’t quite pique my interest until after they released their self-titled first album.

It’s now been nearly a month after the release and the album is still on top of the charts (as of April 24th, 2012) holding four of the top 10 spots and firmly grasping the throne at number 1 with their title track, beating out more established groups like 4minute, Nell and Sistar. Their title of artists holds firm in the fact that all 11 tracks were written and composed by their lead singer Jang Beom-jun. Surely all of these accolades warrant a review right? Well then, let’s get on with it:

1. Spring Breeze (Opening Track, Instrumental)

The album starts off with graceful piano and violin instrumental, signalling the beginning of spring. The track is strangely reminiscent of a time and era gone and would by no means be considered contemporary but still manages to kick off the core feeling for the rest of the album.

2. First Love

The track starts off with a very nice bass and guitar rift which flows into your first taste of Jang Beom-jun’s voice. The song, as with most of Busker Busker’s songs, uses typical pop song progression (intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-middle 8-chorus-outro) and the middle 8 is definitely where Jang Beom-jun’s voice stands out the most (at 2:08). The lyrics themselves paint the feelings of falling in love for the first time and while this might or might not be intended, listening to the album from beginning end will tell you a story of love, breakups, reconciliation and love again. The track on its own is a strong contender for the position of the title track.

3. Yeosu Night Sea

This is probably my least favourite song on the track due to its repetitive lyrics which comes out as a bore due the accompaniment of a mostly stagnant chord progression. Jang Beom-jun’s falsetto also leaves something to be desired as it sounds strained at times. This was something he was criticized for in SuperStar K3. The climax and the guitar solo are the saving graces for this otherwise clichéd orchestration. The song’s lyrics portray his desire to call out his love (most likely unrequited) for a moonlight walk near the sea (presumably the girl from “First Love”).

4. Cherry Blossom Ending (Title Track)

I really felt that there were other tracks on the album that were much better suited for the position of the title track because of the stereotypical harmonica and chord progressions in the song that are already so prevalent in the K-indie scene. The strained falsetto also rears its head again in the chorus and is not a welcoming sound to my ears. The lyrics continue the story with the idea of his confession towards the girl he likes while they’re walking under the cherry blossom trees in spring and eventually, the two of them come together.

5. Ideal Type

This fun and quirky song starts off with Jang Beom-jun pointing out a girl he thinks he thinks is beautiful to Brad Moore but Kim Hyung-tae disagrees. While the song composition itself isn’t very outstanding the lyrics put out a very nice message; everyone has their ideal type and while you may dislike some of your quirky features, someone else can love them. Basically, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To all the international listeners, this is one of the songs in which understanding the lyrics is crucial in appreciating the song. If you’re following the story, it appears Jang Beom-jun is being a bit unfaithful, so are there any repercussions…?

… Of course there are. The lyrics express a desire to go back in time to fix past mistakes (presumably after the breakup with his love) with Jang Beom-jun asking himself, “I was crazy. Why am I like this again?” The song itself is very simple but calming and relaxing to listen to. It’s also the only song on the album that features another member’s vocals along side Jang Beom-jun. Kim Hyung-tae’s performs some vocal interchanging and harmonizing at some points and Brad Moore’s whistling is included in the outro.

7. Alley (Interlude)

This is a 37 second interlude track before the next one and is filled with typical noises you would hear on the street. It features someone walking and whistling and some time has most likely passed since the breakup.

8. At the Entrance to the Alleyway

This is a very upbeat track in contrast to the previous song and my favourite on the album, next to First Love. The guitar and the piano being played have a very “plucky” and jubilant feeling, exuding happiness in every chord. When listening to the lyrics, the song features a run in with his ex along the alley in which he claims that he’s a more experienced lover now and that all the misunderstandings have disappeared. Now, if you’re following the story, this means that his love for his ex has now been rekindled with this little run in.

We meet again at this alleyway entrance
The times we had together are giving me a rush again
All the little misunderstanding have now disappeared

This song could really be another contender to replace the title track.

9. Calling You

I have a love-hate relationship with this song and let me tell you why. The whole song builds up to a very well-done climax in which Jang Beom-jun’s voice is the best I’ve heard it and it shines the most in the entire album (at 2:11) but the outro is underwhelming to say the least; I actually set iTunes to just end the song right after the finale because I felt the staccatoed violins at the end ruined the entire build up. Now to bring us back to the story; Jang Beom-jun is admitting he’s lonely and is calling out to his ex, saying that even though he wanted to erase her voice, he can’t.

The countless memories in my hands aren’t drying up easily…
…Oh, I’m just a bit lonely
I’m calling you
Though I said I would forget even your voice

And so the album comes full circle and spring has come again. This is where I felt the album should have just ended as it’s the perfect tie in to the spring feeling concept and joins the end of the album to the beginning. I felt like the song could have done without the overbearing harmonica but I have to admit, I’m surprised it came in this late in the album as it’s considered a staple in the K-indie rock scene. In the song, he has expressed his feelings to a girl (whether she’s new or his ex is completely up in the air) but the girl has not answered to his feelings yet and you get the same feeling of young love as you do in the first couple of tracks. Again, this is where I feel the album should have ended.

11. Perfume

This is the one song that I felt the album could do without. Not because it’s a bad song; the feelings that are intended are entirely present and conveyed well with an added bonus of Jang Beom-jun’s voice sounding very nice, but because it doesn’t fit into the rest of the album very well. It carries a much more mature sound and theme that at the very least shouldn’t be at the end of the album.

A girl named Love puts on her perfume
And one boy puts on aftershave and they meet
They smell each other’s scent (x2)
My heart soon becomes me
This heart soon becomes you

It feels like a bonus track that they tagged on at the end of the album.

Overall

Despite its minor flaws here and there, Busker Busker’s debut album is one of the best K-indie albums to come out in a while and its absolute domination on the charts merits a standing ovation from K-indie lovers everywhere. Their music isn’t anything innovative or new but it features themes that anybody can relate to at one point or another in their lives; love, breakups, reconciliation, and love again. Another major reason for their success is also Jang Beom-jun’s voice; it may not be the most technically outstanding but he has a very appealing sound and quality to his voice that makes you want to look over his limitations. Whatever the reason for their success, Busker Busker brought K-indie back on the map again and opened up the doors for a new generation of Koreans and international fans alike. Whether this popularity endures is yet to be seen but one thing I can say is Busker Busker shows great potential and I can only anticipate more quality music coming from them in the future.

I KNOW you did not just say that about Nell so I’ll let that one slide but whether or not you think the other two groups are talented, they do have considerably larger fanbases who buy their albums in bulk and have consistently topped the charts before.

Beating out Nell is a pretty impressive feat, I’ll have you know. They are a really respected group and they make some of my favorite music ever. They were mentored by Seo Taiji, the “Cultural President of Korea” himself, and the fact that he helped shape what Korean music is today only speaks bounds about him and his influence.

And I’m going to go ahead and agree with GSun. Whether you think Sistar or 4minute are good or not, their popularity is pretty great, and beating them as rookies is more of a compliment to Busker Busker than it is a diss to the two groups.

idontknoe

They’re album is great, but I hope their popularity outlasts “the American Idol curse”. Reality talent contestants do awesome right after, but their popularity doesn’t last past the debut albums.

ggoma

I don’t like them, but I’m glad that more obviously talented groups are getting their shot at fame!

So…. does the white person know how to speak Korean? haha. Always been curious.

GSun

Yeah, he does. I’m not sure if he’s 100% fluent but he seems to have no problem communicating on shows. He was a professor of English at Sangmyung University where the other two members attended as students.

Berdy

i like what i’m hearing. i don’t even have to understand a word. when something just sounds right there is a effect. right now i’m feeling like a school girl who has a innocent crush on her teacher. does that sound wrong? let’s say its a feeling of first crush.

pbtsjs

I didn’t watch Superstar K and even though I saw that they were topping charts I never really started listening to Busker Busker until my friend linked me Yeosu Bam Ba Da. I seriously would have kicked myself had I not chanced upon the greatness that is Busker Busker.

CN Blue is from a well known record label housing FT Island and they didn’t form themselves; they were brought together when they were trainees as any other idol group. That and the fact that CN Blue doesn’t compose most of their songs. The “indie music” comes from independent music, used to describe an autonomous, do-it-yourself approach to recording and publishing, which CN Blue is not.

“CN Blue is from a well known record label housing FT Island and they
didn’t form themselves; they were brought together when they were
trainees as any other idol group. That and the fact that CN Blue doesn’t
compose most of their songs.”

In Japan(where they were indie) they compose most of they songs, more than 90% if im not mistake, FNC just help then with basic thinks for exemple: when they get arrest they send someone to take they out.

Indie or not i don’t know you are right when you say that the company brought then together but wrong when you say that they don’t compose most of they songs.

P.S: sorry for the bad english

GSun

Nope. Only one of the songs in their debut album in Japan (Now or Never) was co-composed by any of the members of CN Blue.

1. Now or Never
Lyrics : SHUSUI, FAMILY BUSINESS
Composer : SHUSUI, FAMILY BUSINESS
Arrangement : Hirofumi Sasaki

At the time they were trainees of FNC, they released an Independant Mini Album named Now or Never. Being an Indie band at that time allowed them to produce foriegn music in a foreign country and remain a South Korean Band.

However, just because they are trainees for FNC didn’t make them FNC Artists. 4 members or Beast and 4 members of EXID were trainees from JYP but none of them are JYP Artists. Yoari aka Kang Mijin was the 5th member of B.E.G but since she left before they released their debut song, was never considered a full member or an artist of Nega Network. She’s currently a contestant on Korea’s The Voice.

CNBlue can no longer be considered an Indie Band when they released their first South Korean Album Bluetory under FNC. They are now FNC Music Artists which are a major recording label in South Korea. More precisely they are a subsidary to the same company which produced Busker Buskers recent album.

They have a mix of musical styles including rock, pop rock, power pop and alternative rock

GSun

Their debut mini album, Now or Never, was not released under an independent label. It was released under Victor Entertainment, a subsidiary of JVC Japan. A major record label in Japan.

That’s like saying Busker Busker are not Indie because their album is being produced by the Parent Group of FNC

GSun

Yup, Busker Busker are no longer indie because they’ve reached mainstream success and are signed to a major record label. But the difference is, Busker Busker started off as an indie group (self-formed, independent/no record label, self-composed songs) and reached mainstream success later in their career. Thus giving hope to other indie bands that want to reach the mainstream.

CN Blue was never indie. They were brought together by FNC, signed under a major record label from the start (FNC in Korea and Victor Entertainment in Japan), and the greater majority of their songs (approx. 95%) are not composed by them. Even in their debut album in Japan, only one of the songs were CO-composed by a member. I’ve posted the album credits below so you can check them.